ficiune

Ficțiune, or fiction, is a category of literature created from imagination rather than based on direct observation of the real world. In Romanian usage, the term ficțiune refers to works that present invented characters, events, and settings, and it encompasses novels, novellas, short stories, and dramatic plays. The spelling ficiune (without diacritics) is a common nonstandard form or misspelling.

The word derives from Latin fictio, via French fiction and English, signaling the act of feigning or making. Fiction as a concept separates imaginative writing from non-fiction sources such as reports, essays, and documentary prose. In practice, ficțiune may be inspired by real life, but the events and persons within it are shaped by the author’s invention.

Forms and subgenres include prose fiction—novels, novellas, and short stories—and drama. Subgenres commonly encountered in modern writing include realism, historical fiction, science fiction, fantasy, mystery, romance, crime, horror, magical realism, and other speculative or hybrid forms. Many works blend elements from several subgenres, creating diverse narrative experiences.

Core elements of ficțiune are plot, character, setting, and point of view, aided by narrative voice, pace, and structure. Authors use motifs, symbolism, irony, and thematic development to explore ideas about identity, society, ethics, and human experience. Reading fiction often invites interpretation, empathy, and critical reflection on imagined worlds and their relation to real life.

In contemporary culture, ficțiune persists across media, including novels, short stories, plays, graphic novels, and digital storytelling. It remains a primary means for exploring possibility, testing social norms, and imagining alternative futures.